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UNITED STATES ATENT raten@ i GEORGE IV. OSGOOD, OF BOSTON, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO ELIIHAZ W.

ARNOLD, OF WEYMOUTH, MASSAOI-IUSETTS.Y

LAST.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 268,271, dated November 28, 1882. Application tiled September 14, 1882. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, GEORGE W. OsGoOD, a citizen of the United States, residing at Boston, in the county of Suffolk and State of Massachusetts, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Lasts; and I do declare the following` to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains 1o to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the letters and figures of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specitication.

Figure l is a vertical longitudinal section ot' 15 a last and block provided with my improvement. Fig. 2 is a similar section, showing the block resting upon the locking-spring preparatory to being forced into place. Fig. 3 is a similar section, showing the lockingspring ato tached to the block.

The objects ot1 my invention are to facilitate the locking ot' the block to the last, and removing it therefrom to keep the block from sliding backward while the boot or shoe is being lasted, and to provide a simple, cheap, and durable locking device which is reliable in its action.

The letter A designates the last, and B its block. The block-seat ofthe last has a longitndinal groove formed in it, as shown at O, and upon the bottom of this groove is secured one end of a locking-spring, D, which extends toward the top ofthe last, and is bent upward away from the bottom of the groove, its upper end having a hook or finger, cl, formed thereon and projecting outward beyond the side walls of the groove and above the face of the last-seat. In the last-block is formed a groove, as shown at b, the inner wall of which is ar- 4o ranged to tit snugly under the linger d when the block is snug upon its seat, as shown in Fig. 1, at which time said tingerand the spring exert a forward pressure upon the block, which prevents it from sliding rearward when a boot or shoe is being lasted.

In attaching the block to the last no further care is required in placing it in position than would be necessary were simply the ordinary nail to be used in securing it. The toe of the block is first placed in proper position, with its 5o holding-pin inserted in its socket, and the bottoni of the block will then rest upon the tip of the linger d. The block now being forced toward its seat, the spring D will be forced down into the groove, as indicated in dotted lines. and its curve or bend so modified that the finger d will be carried upward beyond 'the adjacent edge of the groove in the block, and will then spring into said groove and clamp its inner wall with a forward pressure, the 6o spring D assuming nearlyits normal position, but still being undersufcient tension to exert a proper forward holdingpressure upon the block. To remove the block the ordinary hook is employed, and a direct rearward pull in line with the block-seat or slightly upward will disengage it t'rom the locking-spring.

The locking-spring and the groove or notch in the block may be located at any intermediate point, or at the top of the block-seat and 7o block, as desired. In the rnodilica-tion shown in Fig. 3 I locate the locking-spring upon the block and form the notch in the block-seat ot' the last. In this moditication the spring Dl extends downward from its point of attachment, in order that its finger d maylenertait-sf" pressure upon the wall of the notch in proper direction to force the block forward. The block is placed in position and removed in this modification the same as before described. 8o

I am aware that a last-block has been provided with a strip-spring having a linger or arm bent toward the block, and arranged to be carried behind a shoulder formed in the block-seat ofthe last, and I do not claim such invention.

1. The combination,with alastand its block, of a longitudinally-arranged strip-spring, secured at one end to one ot' the opposing faces 9o of the parts and curving or bent away therefrom to its other end, which stands off from said face, and is provided with an outwardlyprojecting hook or nger adapted to act upon a catch or shoulder formed behind the other opposing face, all substantially as shown and described.

2. The combination, with a last and its block,

of a strip-spring` arranged in a longitudinal end in its block-seat, but curving` or bentJ away `groove in one ofthe meeting or opposingfaees, therefrom, and provided at its other end with and secured at one end to the inner wall of the outwardly-projecting hook or finger d, and 15 said groove, ont curving or bent away there the block B, having a notch, b, provided with from, and provided at its free end with an ontn Wall arranged to engage said hook or linger, wardly-bent hook or tnger projecting out of substantially as described.

the groove, and a` catch or shoulder formed Intestimonywhereoflnfx my signature in behind the other meeting or opposing face to presence of two Witnesses. engage said hook or linger when the block is i seated upon thelast, substantially asdeseribed. 1

3. The combination, with the last A, having l the longitudinalVstripspring D, secured at one l GEORGE W. OSGOOD. Witnesses:

CHARLES W. RYAN, WILLIAM DEVENS. 

